Vox AC15C1 settings
Heart-Shaped Box settings for Vox AC15C1
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a Vox AC15C1, set Gain 6.5, Bass 0, Treble 0, Reverb 0.5, Tone cut 0, Reverb tone 5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Jazzmaster · updated 2026-08-07
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Vox AC15C1 knobs
- Gain
- 6.5
- Bass
- 0
- Treble
- 0
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Tone cut
- 0
- Reverb tone
- 5
- Reverb level
- 2
- Master volume
- 5
- Normal volume
- 5
- Tremolo depth
- 0
- Tremolo speed
- 0
- Top boost bass
- 0
- Top boost treble
- 0
- Top boost volume
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Focus on tight palm-muted chugs to capture the punchy, aggressive nature of the riff.
- Maintain a dynamic response to your picking to ensure the notes come through clearly.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Vox AC15C1 actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Jaguar (early 1960s, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup and black Seymour Duncan Hot Rails neck pickup)
- Amp
- Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s)
- Gain
- 6.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 5
- Reverb
- 2
Different guitar or pedals? Get Heart-Shaped Box adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Nirvana's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Vox AC15C1 settings for Heart-Shaped Box?
Set Gain 6.5, Bass 0, Treble 0, Reverb 0.5, Tone cut 0, Reverb tone 5.
Which pickup should I use for Heart-Shaped Box?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Nirvana use on Heart-Shaped Box?
Guitar: Fender Jaguar (early 1960s, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup and black Seymour Duncan Hot Rails neck pickup). Amp: Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Jazzmaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Heart-Shaped Box on other amps
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Mustang LT25 · 165
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Frontman 10G · 67
- Heart-Shaped Box on Boss Katana · 62
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Champion 20 · 30
- Heart-Shaped Box on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 20
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Frontman 20G · 19
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Frontman 15G · 18
- Heart-Shaped Box on Orange Crush 12 · 17
Popular songs on the Vox AC15C1
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Killing in the Name · Rage Against the Machine
- 1979 · The Smashing Pumpkins
- Paranoid Android · Radiohead
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.